Haas Factory Team has announced that Dean Thompson will fill a newly created full‑time seat in the NASCAR O’Reilly Series for the 2027 season.
O’Reilly Series Expansion
The decision was made at Iowa Speedway on Saturday, where the team revealed its plan to add a third competitive entry to its O’Reilly portfolio. Thompson, a rising talent in the series, will serve as the driver of the additional car.
Cup Series Stewardship
Alongside the new O’Reilly commitment, Haas continues to field its single‑car NASCAR Cup Series program, currently run by Cole Custer. Team president and Custer’s father, Joe Custer, confirmed that the team will maintain its lone Cup charter, refusing to sell it despite the steep estimated cost of approximately $100 million per charter following recent NASCAR settlement updates.
Joe Custer highlighted that the family continues “to see unfinished business” behind the Cup factory; he added that genealogical support from Gene Haas, the owner of both the Haas F1 Team and the current NASCAR operation, will keep the Cup effort alive. The quotes also underscored a growing partnership with General Motors and a focus on leveraging manufacturing strengths rather than typical race‑car niceties.
Strategic Vision & Partnerships
“We aim to grow closer to GM and our technical ally,” Custer remarked, outlining the team’s intent to deliver fast, front‑running race cars while embracing unconventional engineering and behind‑the‑scenes solutions. The comments also suggested that Haas will not pursue resurrecting the former four‑car structure that existed under Stewart‑Haas Racing, preferring instead to sustain its streamlined, single‑car model.
Gene Haas: From 2009 to 2026
Gene Haas, a fixture in NASCAR ownership for over twenty years, entered the sport in 2009 partnering with Tony Stewart to launch a four‑car powerhouse that claimed Cup championships in 2011 and 2014. Following Stewart’s departure and the closure of Stewart‑Haas Racing after the 2024 season, Haas retained one full‑time charter, appointing Cole Custer as the Cup driver.
Custer, a former O’Reilly Series champion, ended the 2025 Cup season in 32nd place, with his top finish of 4th. As of the 2026 standings, he currently occupies 30th place.
With a fresh O’Reilly Series seat and a committed Cup effort, Haas Factory Team’s dual‑series strategy signals its readiness to challenge for consistent front‑row finishes as the 2027 season approaches.
"